Christopher Reeve

Reeve played the Man of Steel in a series of four Superman films between 1978 and 1987. The first one made him a star, and the sequels solidified his status as the silver screen's definitive superhero from the planet Krypton. He also appeared in Deathtrap (1982), Street Smart (1987) and The Remains of the Day (1993).

MAGNETISM

Magnetism? Well he did play the Man of Steel on four occasions. With his matinee idol looks and East Coast manners, the young Christopher Reeve was often compared to leading men from Hollywood's glamorous past such as Cary Grant. For women who like a little cultured sophistication in their men, Reeve is well-read, classically trained in music, and sensitive.

SUCCESS

Christopher Reeve won the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Award as 1978's Most Promising Newcomer for Superman: The Movie. In 1999, he received the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries for Rear Window. His directorial debut, In The Gloaming (1997), won critical praise as well as several CableAce Awards (including one for Best Director and another for Best Dramatic Special) and five Emmy nominations. He authored two books, including his best-selling autobiography entitled Still Me. In 1999, he picked up a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for his reading of the book.

Besides his entertainment industry accolades, in 1988, Reeve was presented with a special OBIE Award, and recognition from the Walter Briehl Human Rights Foundation, honoring his courageous work on behalf of Chilean artists. He's also a founding member and past co-president of The Creative Coalition, an advocacy group for artists aimed at supporting vital public issues.

Prior to his accident, Reeve was an outstanding athlete who did many of his own stunts in films. He attained his pilot's license while in his early 20s and flew solo across the Atlantic in a small plane on two occasions.

Since his injury, Reeve testified before Congress on behalf of health insurance legislation, and lobbied for increased federal funding for spinal cord research. He even developed a working relationship with President Clinton while the latter was still in office, and remained active in raising awareness about the benefits of stem-cell research into curing ailments and afflictions.

Christopher Reeve Biography

Christopher Reeve was born on September 25, 1952, in New York City. His mother, Barbara, a journalist, divorced his father, Franklin, a professor and writer, in 1956, and relocated to Princeton, New Jersey, with 4-year-old Chris and younger brother Benjamin.

Reeve began appearing in school plays at age 8, and at 9, was chosen to play in the local professional theater's production of Yeoman of the Guard. At 15, he received a summer apprenticeship at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts. Following his graduation from high school, he toured the U.S. in The Irregular Verb to Love, which starred veteran actress Celeste Holm.

chris reeve starts in theater

Reeve entered Cornell University, majoring in Music Theory and English. He also spent some time studying theater in England and France, and worked at the prestigious Old Vic theater in London and the Comedie Francaise in Paris. He studied under John Houseman at The Juilliard School in New York City, where he was Robin Williams' roommate. To help pay for his education, Reeve got a role on CBS's Love of Life, a daytime soap. In the meantime, he was cast in A Matter of Gravity, a Broadway play starring screen legend Katharine Hepburn. He was forced to quit his final year of study, as his professional career was beginning to take off.

Reeve ventured off to Los Angeles in late 1976 and landed a small role in the submarine adventure flick, Gray Lady Down. He then went back to New York to appear in My Life, an off-Broadway production. During that play's run, he auditioned for the part of Superman, which he won, despite his then skinny physique. To gain muscle for the role, he underwent a strict bodybuilding program supervised by David Prowse, who played Darth Vader in the original series of Star Wars films. Reeve's portrayal of the Man of Steel was more believable than any of his screen or TV predecessors, as a hero with a brain, a heart and a sense of humor.

the man of steel steals the show

Superman: The Movie became one of the most successful films of the year following its December 1978 release. Reeve was honored with a BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Award as Most Promising Newcomer for his performance. During the film's 18-month shoot in England, Reeve met Gae Exton, a modeling executive. Their children, Matthew and Alexandra, are the fruits of their 10-year relationship. The couple parted in 1987, retaining joint custody of both children.

Reeve next appeared in Somewhere In Time (1980), a tale of time-travel and romance, co-starring Jane Seymour. He continued performing live, spending the summer of 1980 doing theater in Williamstown, and appearing on Broadway in Fifth of July. Superman II was also released that year.

More movie roles kept him busy throughout the '80s. In 1982, he played Micheal Caine's playwright lover in Deathtrap, and an American priest in Monsignor. He returned to the role that made him famous for Superman III in 1983. He appeared in two period dramas, The Bostonians (1984), a Merchant Ivory production, and a CBS-TV adaptation of Anna Karenina (1985) opposite Jacqueline Bisset.

In 1987, Reeve starred with Oscar nominee Morgan Freeman in Street Smart, and reprised his role as the Man of Steel for Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. That same year, he traveled to Chile to lead a demonstration in support of 77 artists that faced death sentences from the Pinochet regime. In 1988, he received a special OBIE Award, as well as an honor from the Walter Briehl Human Rights Foundation for his courageous crusade to free the artists.

By the early '90s, Reeve's commitment to advocacy work was competing with his professional career. Environmental issues were of particular concern to him. He married actress/singer Dana Morosini in 1992; their son Will was born the same year. Reeve reunited with the Merchant Ivory team for The Remains of the Day (1993), and in a clever bit of casting, the Superman actor fought Batman star Michael Keaton for Geena Davis' affections in Speechless (1994).

tragedy strikes christopher reeve

In May 1995, Reeve was thrown from his horse during an equestrian event in Virginia. His hands had been tangled in the horse's bridle, and he seriously fractured the upper vertebrae of his spine after landing head first. He was immediately paralyzed from the neck down and unable to breathe. On-site medics saved his life, and after he was rushed to hospital, surgeons literally reattached his head to his spine.

To help increase public awareness about spinal cord injury and raise money for research, Reeve made his first public appearance just four months after his accident, in a 20/20 interview with Barbara Walters. In 1996, he accepted invitations to appear at the Academy Awards, to host the Paralympics in Atlanta, and to speak at the Democratic Convention.

Reeve returned to acting with a role in the made-for-TV movie A Step Toward Tomorrow in 1996. The following year, he made his directorial debut with In The Gloaming, starring friend Glenn Close. The HBO film received five Emmy nominations, and won six CableAce Awards, including Best Dramatic Special and Best Director.

Random House published Reeve's autobiography, Still Me, in April 1998. His recording of the book took the Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album in 1999. For his performance in Rear Window (1999), his first major role since becoming paralyzed, Reeve was nominated for a Golden Globe Award, and won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries. He also served as executive producer of the film.

always a real-life superhero

Reeve found himself on the frontlines in the debate over stem-cell research into various medical conditions. In 2001, he joined scientists in a lawsuit aimed at overturning a U.S. government decision to stop funding the controversial testing. In 2002, Reeve urged President Bush and Catholic church leaders to reassess their opposition to research that might free him and others like him from their wheelchairs.

In May 2002, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center was opened. In September, Reeve announced that he had regained some movement and sensation in his hands and feet. He was now able to move his right wrist, the fingers of his left hand, and his feet, and could breathe without the aid of his ventilator for 90 minutes at a time.

Nothing Is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life, his second book, was released in September 2002, in time for his 50th birthday. Reeve ended 2002 and began 2003 by helping lead the New Year's Eve countdown in Times Square along with his wife, Dana, and New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.

In February 2003, Reeve added a guest-starring role as scientist Dr. Swann in an episode of the WB's Smallville, wherein the silver screen's Man of Steel offered TV's young Clark Kent "revelatory insight into his superhero destiny." Having played the superhero four times already, Reeve certainly had the qualifications for the part.

On October 10, 2004, Christopher Reeve passed away with his family at his side. Although his life was cut short, he continues to serve as inspiration for the millions suffering from paralysis. And we're certain all his hard work will eventually lead to a cure, as the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation continues to thrive.